Cutter-head for dredges.



No. 637,83I.

Patented Nov. 28, |899. A. W. RGBINSON.

CUTTER HEAD FOR DREDGES.

(Apphcntmn led May 21, 1898.)

' (No Moduli!` 2 Sheqts--Sheei l.

J. dll

Patented Nov. 2a, |899.

ml. 637,83l.

. WfBBlNSN.-

GUTTER HEAD FOB DREDGES,

(Application led Hay 2l. 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

,J IW w ./V

` l* J j b Y I l# j Jl- 1f y L'f 33.1 551 t A l/ i l /I B2 2 I 7 l L'Il' i )XW/Q \\h 4 4" A /uJ 6' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR W. ROBINSON, OE MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

CUTTER-HEAD FOR DREDcEs.

sPEcI'FIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,831,aateafivovember 2s, 189e.

Application iiled May 21, 1898. Serial No. 681,370. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. ROBINSON, a citizen of the Dominion ofCanada, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented a cer-- tain new and useful Improvement inGlitter- I-Ieads for'Dredges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cutting or stirring devices for dredges and thelike, and has for its object to provide a new and improved device ofthis description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-Figure 1 is a side view of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is afront view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4Eis a section on line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5, Fig.2.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several Iigures.

I have illustrated-in the drawings a cutting or stirring deviceparticularly adapted to be used in connection with suction-dredges, andI have shown the device mounted in operative relation with thesuction-pipe A. This suction-pipe is connected with the dredge in anysuitable manner and is provided with any suitable means by which thematerial to be removed by the dredge is drawn up through the pipe. Ihave not shown the construction of the dredge proper or any of theassociated parts, for the reason that such dredge is no part of mypresent invention and for the further reason that my device maybeemployed in connection with any suitable cooperating parts. The end ofthe suction-pipe A may be formed in any desired manner and, asillustrated in the drawings, is provided with the grating or bars A A2,said grating or bars arranged so as to divide the opening in the pipeinto a series of openings A3. It is ,of course evident that these barsmay be located in any desired position and that any number of barsdesired may be used. I have shown three such bars, the bars A being inan angular position and extending across the opening in the pipe at anangle of, say, forty-tive degrees and the bars A2 extending straightacross the opening, as shown. These bars are provided with suitablecutting edges A4. As illustrated in the drawings, these cutting edgesare of hardened steel and are preferably adj ustably connected with saidbars. It is of course evident that any suitable cutting edges may beemployed and that they may be arranged in any desired manner. Asillustrated in the drawings, the cutting edges are attached to the barsby means of suitable bolts or the like A5, the knives being adjustablyconnected with the bars-as, for example, by means of the enlarged holesA6. Associated with the end of the suction-pipe A are the cutters B,rotatably mounted in any suitable manner in proximity to the opening inthe end of the pipe. As illustrated in the drawings, said cutters areconnected with the shaft B', which is given a rotary motion by suitablemechanism on the dredge. The cutters B are thus moved in front of theend of the'suction-pipe A and are so positioned as to cut up any sticks,grass, roots, lumps of clay, or other obstructions that might tend toclog up the openings in the pipe. These cutters B may be of any suitableconstruction and, as shown in the drawings, are provided with adjustablecutting edges, the cutting edges being held in place by means ofsuitable holding devices-as, for example, the bolts B2. I haveillustrated two cutters in the drawings, but it is of course evidentthat any suitable number of cutters may be utilized. The cuttersy B areplaced at a proper shearing angle, so that the cutting edges are at anangle to the direction of movement of the cutters. I have illustratedthese cutters in the drawings as being substantially at an angle offorty-iive degrees to the line of movement. By the use of thisconstruction I am enabled to dredge in tangled masses of vegetablegrowth or in places where obstructing devices are encountered whichwould Ordinarily plug up the suctionpipe and render the deviceinoperative, the cutters B cutting or breaking these obstructing devicesand allowing them to pass freely through the suction-pipe. Associatedwith the end of the suction-pipe is a cutting or stirring device C,movably mounted in proximity to said pipe in any suitable manner, as bybeing connected to the shaft B. This cutting or stirring device isadapted to loosen or agitate, as it were, the material to be removed bythe dredge, thus freeing it'and al- ICO ' with a tangent to the circleof rotation. lo

ries of blades located at a suitabledistance from the end of the pipe,the blades being curved back toward the pipe, the cutting edges of theseblades being also curved,;so that the cutting edges will be at an angleThis angle may of course be varied in accordance with the conditions tobe met, and, as shown.

in the drawings, is approximately Vforty-tive degrees: This`constructiongives ya better cutting or shearing action and also allows4obstructions-such, for example, as grass or roots-to slidel from thecutting edges and become freed fromY the device, thus removingl thediiculty of having these obstructions carried around by the rotation ofthe cutters, as would be the case if the cutting edges were at rightangles to the tangent of the circle of rotation. This cutting orstirringdevice may be of Vany suitable construction and may be attached to theshaft B in any suitable manner. As herein illustrated, the inner ends ofthe blades of the cutting or stirring device are attached to the shaftB, the bladesthemselves being self-supporting-that is, having structtheir free-operation.

sufficient rigidity to support themselves in i their proper relativeposition without the aid of intervening supports,which might'obsaidcutting orstirring-device have a doublev curvature, as it were, andi-nclose a substantially hemispherical figure, the length of the devicebeing sufficient to enable the cutting edges to removea suiiicientamount of material when the device is in operation.` These blades arebeveled on their inner surface, as shown at D, this` beveled portionbeing .at such an angle as to throw'the material toward the mouth of thesuction-pipe.

The entire device is moved along in its operation `by any suitablemeansand cuts 'or stirs the material to be removed, so thatit" may bedrawn through the suction-pipe A. I prefer to provide a suitable shieldE back offthe cutting or stirring device, as. illustrated in thedrawings,said shield servingto catch'the material which mightotherwisebe carried out of range of the suction-pipe, and thus be iost.

suction-pipe A.

I have illustrated in the drawings apar-s ticular form of my device .inorder .to make its application clear; but it is yof course evidentthatthe several parts may be varied in l form, construction, and arrangementwithout departing from the spirit of my invention,

and I'therefore do'not wish to be limited tov the constructionshown.

I claiml. The combination with a suction-pipe of,`

a cutting or stirring device in `proximity'to The bladesV ofthe endthereof, comprising a series of4 blades supported attheiri'nner endsonly, said blades vcurved back` toward the suction-pipe and additionallycurved away from their direction of rotation, so that their cuttingedges are at an .angle to the tangent of the circle of rotation,`

thus forming blades with a double curvature.

2; The combination with a suction-pipe of a cuttingor-stirring devicemovably mounted in proximity tothe end of said suction-pipe,

`saidcutting or stirring device comprising a Vseries of bladesprojectingwfrom.acommon center, said blades supported at'their innerends 'onlyand 'gradually curving backwardly toward the end of thesuction-pipe and simultaneously curving ,away from their direction ofrotation; l s

r 3. lA dredging device, comprisinga suctionpipe, Va cutting` orstirring device 4movably mounted in proximity'to `the end of -saidsuction-pipe, said-cuttin g or stirring device comprising'a-seriesofblades' supported at Vtheir inner ends only having their ends -bent backtoward the suction-pipe, said blades -being curved so that their cuttingedges `form van acute angle with the tangent to the circle of rotationat certain given points,

4. A dredging device, comprising a suctionpipe, a'cutting or stirringdevice movably mounted in proximity to the end of said suction-pipe,said cutting or stirring devicecomprisinga series ofblades-supported `attheir inner ends only having their ends -bent back toward thesuction-pipe,` said blades curved so that their cutting` edges form anangle of approxi mately forty-ii ve degrees with the tangent to thecircle of rotation at certain given points.- Y

5.A A dredging device,.co'mprisinga suctionpipe, a cutting or stirringdevice in proximity tothe end of saidsuction-pipe forloosening thematerial to `be passed through the suctionpipe, onevor more barsextending across the mouthof said suction-pipe and provided with cuttingedges, a movable vpart between said cuttingor stirringdevice and themouth of said pipe, said movable part adaptedtocooperate with thecutting edges-of said bar or bars so as to break up obstructing-materialat.

' pipe provided at its mouth with one or more cutting edges, a -movabledevice in proximity tothe mouth ofsaid pipe and adapted to bevmovedthereacross, a shaft tov which the -movable device is attached,said Ashaft substantially parallel with the suction-pipe, said movabledevice adapted to engageV obstructing material at the mouth of thepipeand move it in .contact with said cutting edge oredges,

'thus'breaking the obstructing materialupso that it may pass throughthe-pipe.

7. `A dredging device, comprising a suctionpipe,- acuttin g or stirringdevice in proximity tothe `end thereof y and adapted to loosen thematerial to beremoved, a movable part between said cuttingor stirringdevice and the IOO mouth of the pipe adapted to break up obstructingmaterial at the mouth of the pipe and allow it to pass therethrough,said movable part being no part of the cutting or stirring device.

8. As an article of manufacture, a cutting or stirring device,comprising a series of blades supported at their inner ends only adaptedto be rotated about an axis, a portion of each of said blades being bentto one side, said blades being curved so that their cutting edges are atan angle to the tangent of their circles .of rotation. Y

9. A device to be used in connection with the suction-pipe of a dredge,comprising a cutting or stirring device movably mounted in proximity tothe end of said suction-pipe, said cutting or stirring device comprisinga series of blades having their ends bent back toward the suction-pipe,said blades being curved away from their direction of rotation, amovable part between said cutting or stirring device and the mouth ofthe suctionpipe, said movable part adapted to break up obstructingmaterial at the mouth of said suction-pipe and allow it to passtherethrough.

l0. Adredgingdevice,comprisingasuctionpipe, a cutting or stirring devicemovably mounted in proximity to the end of said suction-pipe, saidcutting or stirring device comprising a series of blades bent toward theend of the suction-pipe and curved away from their direction ofrotation, one or more cutting or shearing edges associated with saidsuction-pipe, one or more cutting or shearing blades between thesuction-pipe and the cutting or stirring device and adapted to coperateWith said cutting or shearing edges so as to break up obstructions atthe mouth of tion-pipe and comprising a series of blades bent backtoward the suction-pipe, said blades being curved away from theirdirection of rotation.

12. The combination with a suction-pipe of one or more bars extendingacross the mouth thereof, an adjustable cutting edge associated withsaid bar or bars and a cutting or shearing blade rotatably mounted inproximity to the mouth of said pipe and adapted to coperate with thecutting or shearing edge on said bar or bars.

13. The combination with a suction-pipe of a cutting or stirring devicein proximity to the end of said suction-pipe and comprising a series ofblades projecting beyond the end of said suction-pipe and bentbackwardly toward it and a laterally-projecting shield or the likeassociated with the'mouth of said suc; tion-pipe and adapted to obstructthe material loosened by said cutting or stirring device and prevent itfrom being carried out of range of the suction-pipe and one or moreadditional movable parts between said cutting or stirring device andsaid shield.

14. The combination with a suction-pipe of a cutting or stirring devicein proximity to the end of said suctionpipe, comprisingaseries ofself-supporting blades fastened to the end of a shaft projecting beyondthe end of the suction-pipe, said blades curved backwardly toward thesuction-pipe, the spaces between the blades being unobstructed so as topermit the material to pass freely therethrough.

l5. Adredgingdevice,comprisingasuctionpipe open at its outer end, saidopen end provided with one or more cutting edges, a shaft runninglengthwise along said suction-pipe,

a shearing-blade mounted on said shaft and adapted to be moved past theopen end of said suction-pipe when the shaft is rotated,- so as toengage the obstructing material at the mouth of the pipe and move it incontact with said cutting edge or edges.

ARTHUR W. ROBINSON.

Vitnesses:

DONALD M. CARTER, HOMER L. KRAFT.

